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Burgess won’t defend Duke Energy By Michael Hinman mhinman@lakerlutznews.com
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A state regulatory agency ordered the company to refund $54 million to customers last week, yet many Duke Energy customers remain unhappy about being charged for $3.2 billion in failed nuclear power plant projects. And one candidate for the Florida House is feeling the heat. Danny Burgess, the former Zephyrhills mayor looking to replace Will Weatherford in Tallahassee, had to answer some tough questions from a crowd during a forum at Lexington Oaks recently about accepting a campaign contribution from Duke, and how that might affect his stance on what the nation’s largest utility is charging Florida residents.
MICHAEL HINMAN/STAFF PHOTO
Danny Burgess, left, and Beverly Ledbetter are campaigning to replace Will Weatherford in state House District 38. Both shared their views at a recent forum hosted by Lexington Oaks.
“The answer is very simple: nobody can buy my vote,” Burgess said.“I have been very fortunate to receive a lot of local support, and I have to be able to lay down my head
at night. When I make a decision, it’s for every single person in this room.” Burgess, like other Legislature candidates from both parties, accepted a $1,000 contribution from Duke on July 25. He also received indirect support from Duke through a $2,000 contribution from the Republican Party of Florida, according to state campaign finance records, an organization that has received $100,000 from Duke this year, as well as in-kind donations of $32,250. Duke customers pay a $3.45 surcharge on their bills each month to help fund the company’s closed nuclear power plant in Crystal River, as well as the cancelled nuclear power plant project in Levy County. “Duke Energy donated to my campaign,” See BURGESS, page 6
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Holy Name Monastery, the home of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida for 125 years, has moved into new quarters. The new structure is much smaller and more modern than the sisters’ previous home, which is just across State Road 52.
The new Holy Name Monastery:
A place for spiritual growth, refreshment By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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hen the Benedictine Sisters of Florida arrived in East Pasco from Elk County, Pennsylvania, in 1889, they lived in a three-story hotel in San Antonio. This week, they’re hosting an open house at their new quarters, marking another major milestone in their 125-year history in Pasco County. The new Holy Name Monastery replaces the sisters’ former quarters, which were in a 100,000-square-foot structure across State Road 52. Saint Leo University purchased that building in October 2012, along with some additional acreage from the sisters.The purchase helped cover the cost of the new 28,000-square-foot monastery.The sisters also conducted a capital campaign for $500,000. Like any new home, there are advantages
and disadvantages. The sisters have less space. However, the old multi-story structure where they had lived since 1960 had become too large for them and too expensive to operate and maintain. Sister Mary Romana Gomez is delighted with the sisters’ new home. “I just thank God for a dream come true,” she said. “I’m just in awe,” added Sister Margaret Mary Roberts. “It’s what we wanted,” Sister Jean Abbott agreed. Visitors arriving at the monastery, at 12138 Wichers Road, will be greeted in a small lobby, which is flanked by stained glass windows representing Saint Benedict and his sister, Saint Scholastica. The chapel is large and in a place of prominence, signifying its important role in the monastery. Furnishings for the chapel were moved there from the former
Sister Romana Gomez, Sister Jean Abbott and Sister Margaret Mary Roberts say they’re enjoying their new surroundings at Holy Name Monastery in St. Leo.
monastery’s chapel. Other features of the new monastery include a dining room and kitchen, as well as two small kitchens, where light meals and See MONASTERY, page 6
California group buys West Winds By Michael Hinman mhinman@lakerlutznews.com
FRED BELLET/PHOTO
Here’s mud in your eye At the recent Mud Endeavor in Brooksville, Brittany Ealy of Tampa gets some help from mother-in-law Karen Ealy, who uses part of her shirttail to wipe mud from Brittany’s face. The mud event was a benefit for Saint Leo University’s veteran student services.
West Winds Assisted Living Facility is no longer locally owned. The 75-bed for-profit facility, located at 37411 Eiland Blvd., in Zephyrhills, was sold Oct. 1 to Sabra Health Care Holdings III, which lists its address in Irvine, California, according to Pasco County property records. West Winds Prime LLC was the seller.The Palm Harbor company’s ownership has essentially managed the facility through various companies since West Winds opened in 2008. Sabra is a real estate investment trust that acquires senior citizen housing, memory care and skilled nursing facilities around the country. It purchased West Winds for $10.2 million, adding it to six skilled nursing facilities and three senior housing facilities Sabra purchased through the first half of 2014 for $141.5 million, according to its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It’s not clear how many facilities purchased recently, but a newspaper in Nashville reported the REIT closed on a facility there
around the same time for $21.1 million. Real estate investment trusts, or REITs, are financial securities that allow investors to buy ownership into a property or mortgage, rather than in a company that typically be found on the stock market. Investors in such projects usually earn a percentage of profit from rents or fees collected from tenants in those properties, and would receive a portion of any profits made when the REIT sells that project to someone else. Through the end of June, Sabra already owned six skilled nursing facilities in Florida, according to the company’s website.That includes a 107-bed campus in Fort Pierce the company purchased last March as part of a two-facility, $24.5 million deal. West Winds did not respond to a request for comment. This is the third largest real estate transaction in Pasco this year, behind the $36.1 million sale of the Arlington at Northwood apartment complex in Wesley Chapel, and the $16 million sale of more than 330 acres of land in Wiregrass Ranch to make way for a proposed 550-home subdivision. Both of those transactions took place in May.